Minister pledges private sector driven sports for national development

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has pledged to intensify synergy with the private sector for holistic development of sports in Nigeria.

The minister made the pledge on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of an Inter Ministerial Technical Session on Sports Industry Development organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).

He stressed the need for a private sector-driven sports industry to create employment for the youths and stimulate socio-economic development.

He said “the global practice is for the private sector to partner with the public sector in tapping into the business potential of the sports sector.

“The sector has economic potential to develop strategies and interventions in ensuring economic growth and prosperity, which in turn guarantees social and community development across all spheres.”

Dare said that the ministry was working with the NESG and relevant ministries to develop a National Sports Policy Document, tailored to reach mutual understanding, vision and targets in the field of sports.

He added that “the inter ministerial consultation will assist in fashioning out a new policy to deliver quality sports and physical activity experiences in the development of nationhood.”

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NESG, Mr Laoye Jaiyeola, stressed the need for sports to be seen as a viable business industry that can generate revenue and create employment.

He said the NESG was ready to work closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to reposition sports for socio-economic development.

It was reported that the two-day technical session with the theme “Positioning Sports as an Industry from Concept to Action” has participants from Ministries, Department and Agencies, as well as the private sector.